Against Stoke in their last English Premier League game, Arsenal showed plenty of resolve and fight to carve out a 1-0 victory. Saturday at the Stadium of Light, the Gunners need to put in another impressive performance against Sunderland, or their dream of yet another top-four finish might just go up in smoke.
Arsenal are currently in sixth place, four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who entertain Newcastle in the early game; meaning a win for Spurs could take them seven points clear of their North London rivals.
There is no doubt that Arsenal have looked better as the season has wore on, albeit with a couple of stumbles, and with some of their new signings blending into the pace and power of the Premier League.
One man in particular will be key to driving Arsenal towards that champions League spot - Jack Wilshere. The midfielder is coming off a man of the match performance for England against the mighty Brazil in their international friendly at Wembley, and Saturday the Gunners will need Wilshere to be firing on cylinders and making those driving runs.
Sunderland, who are 12th on 29 points, while not being as unambitious as Stoke, will also put majority of their players behind the ball, asking Arsenal to play through the wall of defenders, while the home side will pose a threat via their top scorer Steven Fletcher and winger Adam Johnson.
The Gunners created plenty of chances against Stoke last weekend, but were guilty of some profligacy in front of goal while also running into an in-form goalkeeper in Asmir Begovic.
Sunderland custodian Simon Mignolet is no mug either, and Arsenal forwards will need to be at their best to find a way past, first the defense, and then the goalkeeper.
Nacho Monreal made a sound debut for the Gunners in the last game, and the left-back will be hoping for another solid performance.
The Gunners have quite a worry in central defense, with Laurent Koscielny limping out for France in their friendly against Germany in midweek. Thomas Vermaelen has been ruled out and Wenger might have to bring in the hardly used Sebastian Squilacci to partner Per Mertesacker.
Aaron Ramsey also has a slight injury, which forced him to withdraw from the Wales squad, while Wenger will need to assess the likes of Santi Cazorla and Monreal who made a long trip to Doha to play for Spain against Uruguay.
Arsenal need to go on a run of victories to even possibly grab that third spot, and another three points over Sunderland, regardless of the manner, will be another step towards sealing Wenger's much coveted Champions League place.
Expected lineups: Sunderland: Mignolet; N'Diaye, Bramble, O'Shea, Rose; Larsson, Colback, Gardner, Sessegnon, Johnson; Fletcher.
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Monreal; Arteta, Wilshere; Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski; Giroud.
Prediction: 2-0 to Arsenal
